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An officer responds
Dear Editor,
I would like to respond to Mike's comments in "A very peculiar thing."
My name is Kevin Darling and I've known Mike for a long time and there's a lot of folks out there on both sides of the fence that know me and what I do. What I've written below brings me no shame and I don't apologize for my opinion.
Mike, you always reference your illustrious past with Tulsa PD. You were there what a year and a half, back in the '70s? You describe a stigma that Law Enforcement has been trying to negate, pretty much since the '70s. I've been in law enforcement long enough to also have dealt with the Rodney King beating and the work that had to take place afterward to restore law enforcement credibility and public trust so I understand what I'm trying to impart.
This code of silence you refer to cannot and should not ever happen. To help an officer in need, whether it is a personal crisis or professional, that's when we have to intervene for each other, provide the support to each other. Once it's gone into the public arena we have to respond and act in a professional consistent manner. The good 'ol boy days of law enforcement are, for the most part, a thing of decades past.
Apparently you didn't serve in law enforcement long enough to understand the concept of living in a fish bowl. By that I mean that everything we do, on duty or off is subject to review. Even if we haven't done something wrong, we have to defend ourselves with the higher-ups because of someone's perception of what we were doing or not doing. That's why law enforcement and even firefighters tend to hang out. The other side of that coin is that we all expect each other to represent themselves well. Friend or not, we expect more of each other than the general public ever could.
The term "professional courtesy" has been bandied about, meaning cops can get away with anything and everything.
Other terms that we've tried to rise above are "pig" or "I smell bacon" or even "donut eater," not very flattering on any level but people think they're being so cute. No person, not law enforcement, fire, clergy, banker, teacher, doctor, politician or wealthy individual is above the law, which simply means if someone makes the choice to cross the line, they should expect to be dealt with in a fair and similar manner to anyone else in those circumstances.
Finally, as far as the handcuffing goes, you need to think of it this way. A person could possibly have made a life-altering choice and gotten caught, in that a conviction will certainly end a career path. Their current employment and everything that goes with it is in jeopardy. Their credibility among that family you describe is threatened, as is their credibility in the eyes of the court, which renders them useless to their employer. Although they answer to a single authority, they are a disappointment to those they work with, those they have taught, those who pay their salary, and they haven't fulfilled the obligation that they swore an oath to uphold.
With all that in mind, the training of both the arresting officer and the officer arrested is the same. The arrestee now sees the above in clearer focus, but they are also not thinking clearly, obviously or they wouldn't have subjected themselves to their current circumstance. In an instant, how dangerous do you suspect that situation could be for both officers with even a fleeting ill conceived thought of altering the outcome.
We in law enforcement have worked very hard to change people's perceptions of us, old stigmas and stereotypes do little to help our image. Only professional consistent actions on our part earn peoples respect. I can't recount how many times I've arrested someone who uttered the phrases like "do you know who I am?" or "I'm personal friends of X". At that point my response has generally been about the same, "you are the person I have just placed under arrest for violating the law and does it seem to you like I really care about any of that right now?" Although blunt and not what people want to hear, it is consistent.
I have arrested or cited every type of person from the most righteous of church goers, CEOs, professionals within the community, officer's kids and judge's wives. I've been shamefully treated by a surprising number of surprising people. My stance has always been that my ethics and integrity are more important than your dignity and self righteous public persona. Ultimately, I can't take it personally, it's the badge, and I've accepted that people are probably already having a bad day by the time I visit with them. That's being professional.
So you really shouldn't be surprised by what you describe as a very peculiar thing as times have certainly changed. Professional law enforcers are and should be the norm, not the exception. It would seem as though you've lost that insight into that inner circle and are completely out of touch with current law enforcement. I worry about the future of law enforcement not having the proper mindset. I do not doubt your intelligence and I respect your ability to teach and provide insight into the criminal mind, but as far as current Law Enforcement your experience stayed in the '70s with your badge.
Again blunt but honest. Twenty-seven years I've been doing this, and I sleep well with the choices and the path I've taken to get here. Yes, I also understand that my comments will be insulting to those involved and I have expressed my opinion to the sheriff and no, I don't apologize for my opinion.
I thought it also might be interesting for the public to check out the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics (below) as well. After reading it if anyone has questions, call us, We respond to everything.
Kevin Darling,
McCook, Nebraska
Las Enforcement
Code of Ethics
As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all people to liberty, equality and justice.
* I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.
* I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.
* I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession ... law enforcement.